Malaysia Trade Balance Risk Dashboard

Malaysia Trade Intelligence

Review Malaysia’s trade balance risk by sector, including export surplus strength, import deficit exposure, trade balance ratio, and sector risk classification using official Malaysia open data.

Latest Malaysia Trade Balance Risk: March 2026

The figures below rank sectors by the strength of their trade surplus or trade deficit exposure.

Total Exports RM 148,752,304,156 (RM 148.75 billion)

Total Imports RM 124,199,086,437 (RM 124.20 billion)

Trade Surplus RM 24,553,217,719 (RM 24.55 billion)

Highest Balance Risk Sector Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles

Malaysia Sectors Ranked by Trade Balance Risk

The cards below rank sectors by calculated balance risk. This score measures the strength of surplus or deficit exposure for general comparison only.

Rank 1

Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles

Balance Risk Type Surplus Strength

Risk Score 76.27/100 — High

Trade Surplus RM 9,388,409,460 (RM 9.39 billion)

Balance Ratio 35.77%

Exports RM 17,817,880,070 (RM 17.82 billion)

Imports RM 8,429,470,610 (RM 8.43 billion)

Total Trade RM 26,247,350,680 (RM 26.25 billion)

Rank 2

Machinery and Transport Equipment

Balance Risk Type Surplus Strength

Risk Score 74.83/100 — High

Trade Surplus RM 11,990,136,548 (RM 11.99 billion)

Balance Ratio 8.05%

Exports RM 80,492,049,894 (RM 80.49 billion)

Imports RM 68,501,913,346 (RM 68.50 billion)

Total Trade RM 148,993,963,240 (RM 148.99 billion)

Rank 3

Animal and Vegetable Oils, Fats and Waxes

Balance Risk Type Surplus Strength

Risk Score 57.33/100 — Moderate

Trade Surplus RM 4,681,864,666 (RM 4.68 billion)

Balance Ratio 66.28%

Exports RM 5,872,816,498 (RM 5.87 billion)

Imports RM 1,190,951,832 (RM 1.19 billion)

Total Trade RM 7,063,768,330 (RM 7.06 billion)

Rank 4

Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials

Balance Risk Type Surplus Strength

Risk Score 40.00/100 — Low

Trade Surplus RM 4,965,218,650 (RM 4.97 billion)

Balance Ratio 18.35%

Exports RM 16,011,233,441 (RM 16.01 billion)

Imports RM 11,046,014,791 (RM 11.05 billion)

Total Trade RM 27,057,248,232 (RM 27.06 billion)

Rank 5

Commodities and Transactions Not Elsewhere Classified

Balance Risk Type Deficit Exposure

Risk Score 33.03/100 — Low

Trade Deficit RM -1,879,295,124 (RM -1.88 billion)

Balance Ratio -36.76%

Exports RM 1,616,624,419 (RM 1.62 billion)

Imports RM 3,495,919,543 (RM 3.50 billion)

Total Trade RM 5,112,543,962 (RM 5.11 billion)

Rank 6

Food and Live Animals

Balance Risk Type Deficit Exposure

Risk Score 30.20/100 — Low

Trade Deficit RM -2,632,557,937 (RM -2.63 billion)

Balance Ratio -24.72%

Exports RM 4,008,837,738 (RM 4.01 billion)

Imports RM 6,641,395,675 (RM 6.64 billion)

Total Trade RM 10,650,233,413 (RM 10.65 billion)

Rank 7

Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels

Balance Risk Type Deficit Exposure

Risk Score 20.03/100 — Low

Trade Deficit RM -1,524,907,933 (RM -1.52 billion)

Balance Ratio -18.54%

Exports RM 3,349,654,797 (RM 3.35 billion)

Imports RM 4,874,562,730 (RM 4.87 billion)

Total Trade RM 8,224,217,527 (RM 8.22 billion)

Rank 8

Chemicals and Related Products

Balance Risk Type Deficit Exposure

Risk Score 14.81/100 — Very Low

Trade Deficit RM -1,605,520,320 (RM -1.61 billion)

Balance Ratio -9.06%

Exports RM 8,056,602,553 (RM 8.06 billion)

Imports RM 9,662,122,873 (RM 9.66 billion)

Total Trade RM 17,718,725,426 (RM 17.72 billion)

Rank 9

Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material

Balance Risk Type Surplus Strength

Risk Score 10.38/100 — Very Low

Trade Surplus RM 1,201,753,698 (RM 1.20 billion)

Balance Ratio 5.61%

Exports RM 11,302,933,756 (RM 11.30 billion)

Imports RM 10,101,180,058 (RM 10.10 billion)

Total Trade RM 21,404,113,814 (RM 21.40 billion)

Rank 10

Beverages and Tobacco

Balance Risk Type Deficit Exposure

Risk Score 4.18/100 — Very Low

Trade Deficit RM -31,883,989 (RM -31.88 million)

Balance Ratio -6.65%

Exports RM 223,670,990 (RM 223.67 million)

Imports RM 255,554,979 (RM 255.55 million)

Total Trade RM 479,225,969 (RM 479.23 million)

Source: Official Malaysia open data from data.gov.my and the Department of Statistics Malaysia. The trade balance risk score is calculated from official sector trade figures for general comparison only and is not an official DOSM score. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision.

Understanding Malaysia Trade Balance Risk

Malaysia trade balance risk shows which sectors have stronger surplus positions and which sectors have stronger deficit exposure. A sector with a large deficit may depend more heavily on imported goods, while a sector with a large surplus may contribute positively to Malaysia’s overall trade position.

This dashboard compares exports, imports, total trade, trade balance, balance ratio, and a calculated risk score for each major sector. The score is not an official government rating. It is a simple comparison tool based on official trade data.

Why Trade Balance Risk Matters

Trade balance risk matters because import-heavy sectors may be more exposed to freight costs, exchange rates, supplier disruption, customs delays, and overseas market conditions. Export-heavy sectors may be more exposed to foreign demand, commodity price changes, global competition, and international shipment conditions.

For logistics providers, trade balance risk can help identify whether a sector is likely to generate stronger outbound cargo movement or stronger inbound cargo movement. This can support shipment planning, warehousing, customs clearance, distribution, and port coordination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is trade balance risk?

Trade balance risk is a general comparison of how strongly a sector leans toward trade surplus or trade deficit.

Is the risk score official?

No. The risk score is calculated from official DOSM data for general comparison only.

What does high deficit exposure mean?

It means the sector imports significantly more than it exports.

How often is the data updated?

The official trade data is generally updated monthly. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision.

Data Notice:
The figures displayed on this page are based on official Malaysia open data and are provided for general information and reference. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision by the official data provider.